Sailing craft



' Sept. 10, 1963 L. CHRISTMAN SAILING CRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1959 INVENTOR. LOWELL CHRISTMAN FIG.3

ATTORNEY Sepl. 10, 1963 L. CHRISTMAN SAILING CRAFT Filed Dec. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LOWELL CHRISTMAN ATTQRNEY FIG.6

3,103,196 SAILING CRAFT Lowell Christrnnn, 36 S. Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, Fla. Filed Dec. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 860,254 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-39) This invention relates to sailing craft, and more particularly is directed to rudderless monocoque hulls with sail power and steerage.

An object of this invention is to provide a sailing craft, of the class described, with a light Weight monocoque hull wherein the structural strength is derived from the curvature of the enclosing arcuate surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sailing craft hull of the class described, in which there is provided longitudinal fins on each side thereof to provide lateral resistance as is generally provided by center boards or keels.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described with fore and aft cantilever sails pivoting about geometric axes to control and change the set of sails.

Another object of this invention is to provide dynamically balanced fore and aft sails to provide full maneuverability by the sails alone with minimum effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which can be launched and beached fully rigged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hull of the class described, with constant-direction lateral resistance by the employment of straight-sided construction augmented by side extensions into fins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hull of the class described having horizontal tore and aft edges to increase stability and to minimize resistance at bow and stern to passage of craft through displaced water; and, eliminate all splash.

Another object of this invent-ion is to provide a sailing craft hull with horizontal .fore and aft edges and an arcuate bottom therebetween having the curve of the radius of a section of a great cylinder, so that the craft tends to rise and fall as a whole instead of pitching or see-sawing endwise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rudderfree sailing craft.

Another object of this invention is to provide large areas of sail without the use of bow spmits or similar devices; and such large areas of sail provide not only the motive power, but also the steerage means.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide cantilever sail-s effectively extending the sail areas beyond the bow and stern of the craft or vessel to which mounted.

A further object of this invention is to provide -a craft of the class described, in which the sail elements (form a structural tetrahedron in which at least one of the sails forms a leg of such structure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a craft of the class described, which is easily dismantled, stored, transported and rapidly reassembled for use without the employment of any special tools, attachments or fixtures.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a craft of the class described, which will be simple and economical in construction, employing standard materials and mass production principles; and, which will be efficient, durable and simple in operation and use.

The foregoing objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a device of this invention;

3,193,195 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 FIG. 2 is an aft elevation of a device of this invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a device of this invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, with pivotal action of the fore and aft sails and yards to which they are attached being shown in dotted outline;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

' FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a device of this invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a dissembled view of the top of the polespar or tree footed mast of this invention showing the aperture through which the sail ropes and cable stays are threaded to secure same to the top of the mast;

FIG. 8 is a view of the top of the pole-spar or free footed mast with the sail ropes and cable stays threaded through the aperture and looped around the spar; and,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the pole or free footed mast seated in the shallow pocket on the hull, and illustrating the tree drainage of the pocket.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like members are given the same reference numeral, the unique hull of this sailing craft is indicated generally by the numeral 10.

The hull 10 will be dimensionally described for the small, two-crew craft. A sheet of four feet by eight feet by one quarter inch marine plywood forms the top 11 of the monocoque hull and another such sheet forms the bottom 12 of this hull. The hulls side fins or go-fins 13 are each fashioned firom one quarter inch thick marine plywood sheets. The side fins or go fins 13 are twelve to fourteen inches in depth at the aft position and two inches at the fore position. The fins 13 are shaped to conform with the curvature of the top surface 11 and the bottom with a straight line until it meets the curvature of the bottom surface 1 2 and is then shaped to follow the curvature of the bottom surface.

A vertical transverse member 13a is positioned A the length of the hull from the aft lateral edge to provide a support for a spar or mast 20 positioned thereabove. This support member 13a is of a quarter inch marine plywood.

A plurality of transverse cross-strips 14 and 15 are secured to the inside of the top member 11 and bottom member 12 respectively, and these strips are positioned vand of a length to stop short of the lateral edges of the sides of the top 11 and bottom 12 members. Positioned longitudinally of the said top 11 and bottom 12 members and on the inside thereof and adjacent to the lateral edges thereof are strips 14a and 15a abutting the said cross strip 14 and 11$ respectively. These cross strips 14 and 15 and longitudinal strips 14a and 15a are preferably one half inch by three quarters inch rectangular wood members. Beveled strips of wood 16 and 17 are positioned between the top and bottom members 11 and 12 at the aft and tore portions, respectively. Fore and aft half rounds 18 and 19 respectively are provided for the full transverse width of the hull on the outside edges thereof. These half rounds are preferably 1% inch material.

The aforesaid members are secured each to the other by pressure gluing the strips 14 and 14a to the top member and the strips 15 and 15a to the bottom member 12. The transverse vertical spar or mast support member 13a, and fore and aft members 16 and 17 are then pressure glued to the top 11 and bottom 12, together with the side fins 13 and fore and aft half rounds 18 and 19 respectively. Marine screws may be used to additionally secure members together.

Before gluing, all parts are accurately curved, sanded and positioned for abutting relationship; and, the parts are pressure glued so as to curve the top 11 and bottom 12 of the hull as true arcs of a great circle or sections of cylinders. The fore and aft horizontal edges of said top 1.1 and bottom 12 members are spaced 1 /8 inches apart Whereas the distance between the said top 11 and bottom 12 members at the longitudinal center portion thereof is 7 /2 inches.

The unique removable sail arrangement comprises a rectangular recess in a base plate 21 formed of four noncontiguous pieces to provide drainage therefor. A continuous cable stay 22 has the ends thereof removably securedto the sides of the hull at the aft corners, with separable fasteners, such as snap hooks secured to the cable and screw eye elements 22:: secured to the hull or oblong eyes on the cable link-hooked over the screw eyes 22a. The central portion of the continuous cable stay 22 is threaded through a transverse aperture 23 in the uppermost portion of the pole spar 20, and the central portion of this cable stay 22 is then looped over the top and around the pole spar 2%, as illustrated in PEG. 8. This pole spar or mast 2a is removable and is positioned on the transverse mid line of the hull at a point approximately one quarter of the hull length measured from the aft edge. There is provided an aft sail 24 and fore sail 25', counterbalanced and pivotally mounted as more fully explaned hereinafter.

The aft sail 24 is of usual triangular design with a perimeter hem to provide sleeves. The sail apex has a double reenforced portion 36. The bottom or base sleeve receives a yard 26. A continuous rope 29 is secured to the fore edge or fore end of the yard 26, inserted through the sleeve in the leading or fore edge of the sail to the apex thereof, where a slack loop is provided and then secured to the reenforced portion 36 of the apex; and, another rope 29a is secured to the fore end of the yard and the pole spar or mast with a slight play therein. The fore sail 25 is likewise of triangular design but of approximately one third greater length on the yard 27 than the raft sail. Thissail also has a perimeter hem to providesleeves, and a double reenforced apex portion 37. The bottom or base sleeve receives a yard 27. A continuous rope 23 is secured to the fore edge or end of the yard 27, threaded through the sleeve in the leading or fore edge of the sail 25 to the apex Where l3. slack loop is provided and then secured to the reenforced portion 37' of the apex; and, secured to the aft end of the yard 27 is another rope 28a, having the free end thereof looped around the pole spar 2 until ready for use, when the free end is removed from the spar for manual control of the sail. The slack loops of each said sail ropes 28 and 29 are put through the aperture 23 in the mast head and looped over it.

The aft and tore half rounds have securely anchored therein at mid-section screw-eyes 3t) and 33, respectively. A rope 32 secured to the yard 26 provides twin stays from the yard to the hull through a connecting link 31, to which the rope 32 is clove hitched. The fore sail has a similar rope forming a twin stay from the yard 27 to the hull through a connecting link 34, to which the rope 35 is clove hitched. The oblong links 31 and 34 are link-hooked over the horizontally set eye of the screweye fasteners 30 and 33 to releasably fasten these members together; when the screw-eyes 3d and 33 are vertical, snap hooks may be used as the fastening links 31 and 34.

The axis of the fore sail 23 is illustrated by a center line 33 on FIG. 6 extending irom the spar aperture 23 to the fore pivot point 33; and, the axis of the aft sail is in the plane of the aft sail and in the plane of the aft stays 22, extending from the spar aperture to the aft pivot point 30.

For a small, two-crew craft the aft yard 26 is six feet in length and the fore yard 27 is eight feet in length. The axis of the fore sail 25 is three quarters the length of the fore yard 27 measured from the pole spar 2t); and, the axis of the aft sail 24 is one-third the length of the aft yard 26 measured from the pole spar 20.

As is seen from the foregoing description, the fabrication and construction of the hull and sail elements are extremely simple and economical. The assembly and disassembly of the finished product is equally as simple and easily effected. The hull is laid on its side on the beach, the cable stays 22 and sail cords 28 and 29 are threaded through the spar aperture 23 and looped over the spar 2i", and the mast or pole spar 24) is then placed in the support plate 21, the ends of cable stay 22 secured to the i ull anchor screw eyes 22a and the mast or pole spar 2t} positioned. The fore sail twin stays 35 are then secured to the screw eye 33 by the connecting link 34 completing the tetrahedron. The aft sail twin stays 32 are then anchored to the hull by means of the connecting link 31 and the screw eye Ell. The craft is then turned up in proper position and pushed into the Water. The aft rope 29a is fastened to the spar 20 with a slight play in the rope; and, the fore sail steering rope 23a may be loosely wrapped around the spar 26 until ready for use, when it is removed from the spar and held by the sailor. The end of the rope 23 at the leading edge of the lore sail 25, is tightened around. the yard 27 to obtain the desired and proper curvature in the sail 2.5, and the cord 28 is then secured to the yard 27. The proper curvature of the aft sail 2 1' is similarly obtained by tightening the rope 29 in the leading edge of the sail 24 on the yard 26.

In operating a craft of this invention, the procedure is equally as simple and easy. The hull fins 13 and aft sail Z4- tend to keep the craft headed into the Wind and the horizontal fore edge 13 increases the stability of the craft; and, the design of the hull as a Whole provides a smoother less power consuming hull. The craft is steered solely by the fore sail 25,Which is controlled by the fore rope 28a. After-sail is previously set to close haul, broad-reach, or in between, with the fore yard 27 and sail 25 extended from the hull, a slight pull on the rope 28a secured to the trailing end of the yard 27, veers the craft to leeward; an easing veers craft to windward. By releasing the rope 28a and with after sail close hauled, the craft is brought into the Wind, and a slight backwind push on the yard 27 brings the craft about and under sail on the other tack.

The invention has been illustrated and described-in detail, but the invention is not so limited; many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed and desired to be secured by the grant of the United States Letters Patent is:

l. A sailing craft comprising an enclosed hull having horizontal fore and aft edges and a longitudinal arcuate bottom, lateral depending fins on each side thereof, and a fore and an aft sail extending beyond said hull and pivoted to rotate about axes laying in the plane of each of said sails and extending from the apex of each said sail to the respective fore and aft portion of said hull.

2. A sailing craft comprising a hull, a mast socket on said hull, a removable mast, aft stays removably secured to the top of said mast and the aft sides of said hull, a fore sail and aft sail each having a yard supported by said sail and the fore sail having the apex thereof removably secured to the top of said mast and the'yard thereof pivotally connected with the fore portion of said hull, and said aft sail having the apex thereof removably secured to the top of said mast and the yard thereof pivotally connected to the aft portion of said hull.

3. A sailing craft comprising a hull, a mast socket positioned a fourth of the hull length from the aft edge of said hull, a removable mast, aft stays removably secured to the top of said mast and the aft side of said hull, .a fore sail and aft sail, each having a yard supported by said sail, and said fore sail having the apex thereof removably secured to the top of said mast and the yard thereof pivotally connected with the fore portion of said hull, and

an aft sail having the apex thereof removably secured to the top of said mast and the yard thereof pivotally connected to the aft portion of said hull.

4. A removable sail assembly for a rudderless sailing craft, comprising a removable mast, fore and aft sails each having yard supported thereby and said fore and aft sails having the apexes removably secured to the top of said mast and the yards thereof pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis within each of said sails extending from the apex thereof to the fore and aft sections of said sailing craft respectively.

5. A removable sail assembly for a rudderless sailing craf-t, comprising a removable mast, fore and aft sails each having yard supported thereby and said fore and aft sails having the apexes removably secured to the top of said mast, the yards of said fore sail and .aft sail being pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis Within each of said sails extending from the apex thereof to the fore and aft sections of said sailing craft respectively and ropes removably fastened to the sail yards and extending through the hems of the fore edges of said sails for shaping said sails and securing said sails to the mast top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,520 Lundquist May 20, 1902 1,357,027 Brunjes Oct. 26, 1920 2,007,598 Easthope July 9, 1935 2,373,019 Dix Apr. 3, 1945 2,412,578 Harris Dec. 17, 1946 2,573,745 Wallenberg Nov. 6, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, November 1949, pp. 210-213. Popular Mechanics, July 1958, pp. 168-172. 

1. A SAILING CRAFT COMPRISING AN ENCLOSED HULL HAVING HORIZONTAL FORE AND AFT EDGES AND A LONGITUDINAL ARCUATE BOTTOM, LATERAL DEPENDING FINS ON EACH SIDE THEREOF, AND A FORE AND AN AFT SAIL EXTENDING BEYOND SAID HULL AND PIVOTED TO ROTATE ABOUT AXES LAYING IN THE PLANE OF EACH OF SAID SAILS AND EXTENDING FROM THE APEX OF EACH SAID SAIL TO THE RESPECTIVE FORE AND AFT PORTION OF SAID HULL. 